I know these are only reference tensions but #3 clearly was a bad one, I concluded.
I requested 62# but I think the stringer( person or machine ) probably pulled it at 70+ lbs.
It felt dead and I stopped playing with it. BT7 with this high tension is probably unusable.
There goes $43(string) + $22(stringing fee) wasted.

I know these are only reference tensions but #3 clearly was a bad one, I concluded.
I requested 62# but I think the stringer( person or machine ) probably pulled it at 70+ lbs.
It felt dead and I stopped playing with it. BT7 with this high tension is probably unusable.
There goes $43(string) + $22(stringing fee) wasted.

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Did you use the standard string factors with the program or calculate custom string factors for the string?

I just said screw it and got my own stringer - a Klippermate. Not worth fighting with the shop

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I used to be a customer of a stringer who does stringing only.
He is a retired tennis player and all he does is stringing.
He was the most consistent stringer I have met and only charged $15-20.
I used to string it by myself but just can't beat a retired guy who does
stringing only.

Now that I relocated due to my day job, I'm in a process of finding a good
local stringer. Even the shop with USRA certifications, sometimes, does
a sloppy job, which is understandable. I just can not find one as good as
my old stringer, ha ha ha.:???:

It's just some software some guy made up. No indication of any scientific method to it. No measuring tension (because you can't). No account of head shape on sound (because it's too complicated). Just randomness someone made up to make quick cash.

I use the DT on racket tune as reference and can use that to string different brands and types to play fairly close. I don't pay too much attention to the RT versus machine tension because it usually doesn't match but if you match the DT from one string to another they will play fairly close. Just my two cents worth

I got two new Blade lites strung with Forten sweet 16 at 59 and 56. RacquetTune reported 47.5 and 46 respectively. There is a difference in the absolute values between what it was strung at and what RT reported but if I consider relative values then RT was fairly accurate. I think thats what RT is to be used for - not to measure absolute tension vis-a-vis the stringer tension but to keep track of how the tension lose happens over time with respect to the tension reported immediately after a new string job. That can help to figure out when its time to replace the strings especially if one doesnt break strings.

That can help to figure out when its time to replace the strings especially if one doesnt break strings.

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I advocate a performance-based decision to replace strings. When the ball starts to not do what you want it to do, (you miss your targets more, more shots going long, hooking shots wide) then you replace your strings. Tension matters less than loss of resiliance.

I know these are only reference tensions but #3 clearly was a bad one, I concluded.
I requested 62# but I think the stringer( person or machine ) probably pulled it at 70+ lbs.
It felt dead and I stopped playing with it. BT7 with this high tension is probably unusable.
There goes $43(string) + $22(stringing fee) wasted.

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The only one of those that looks off is #3. I use the RacquetTune app and have been stringing my own sticks on a Gamma X2 for the past 7 yrs. The biggest eye-opener for me once I started using the app was how much tension my strings dropped within the first 15 min right after being strung. It seems as though they "settle" a bit. I'm not surprised by your first few readings, especially since they have been played for a few weeks.

Also, in response to the comment about the accuracy of RacquetTune; it's pretty darn accurate provided you make sure that you enter all the correct frame and string data for your stick. Sometimes I've taken readings that looked pretty funky only to discover that I was using the data entered for a completely different stick.

how come all my rackets are in the 40's. Even though i strung them myself on the gamma x-2. I can't be THAT bad at stringing right? Even have a synthgut job at 60 from TW and it reads in the low 40's range just like all my other rackets. I know string tensions drop and stretch, but i thought it was normal. seeing you guys in the 60's is making me question myself.

how come all my rackets are in the 40's. Even though i strung them myself on the gamma x-2. I can't be THAT bad at stringing right? Even have a synthgut job at 60 from TW and it reads in the low 40's range just like all my other rackets. I know string tensions drop and stretch, but i thought it was normal. seeing you guys in the 60's is making me question myself.

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It's not you, its the machine.

For years I read about people here stringing at low tensions (50-52lbs), and all I could think was "There's no way I could control my racquet at that tension". I was stringing in the upper 50s (~ 58 ), was using a drop-weight, and had been stringing for 20+ years., but RacquetTune kept telling me upper 40s/low 50s.

This past fall I splurged and bought a new Alpha Revo w/ the Wise tension head. I strung my first frame at 58/56 (my normal tension), and my arm practically fell off.

Turns out I had been stringing at 54/52 for all these years and didn't even know it. Now I pull my racquet off the machine & it's practically spot-on w/ RacquetTune. So, I'd believe RacquetTune before a drop-weight machine.

I hate to tell you this, but you did not use the correct string factor. The only way to get the correct string factor is to measure it yourself. You can do this with a calibrated drop weight stringer. The instructions are in the RacquetTune app.

I measured my own string factors for a while until I got lazy and just used the default factors. I know my readings on certain strings will be off, but I mainly use it to track relative tension loss. Until you have the equipment to measure string factors yourself, do not rely on RacquetTune to give you accurate tension readings. It will still work fine for measuring relative tension loss over time.

My own experience with Babolat Tonic 16 gauge w/BT7 told me that it measured very high when using the default string factor. My guess is that the #3 string job may have been your best string job while #1 and #2 were either rushed and under-tension or they were exposed to moisture and lost tension. Gut can lose a lot of tension just by playing in humid weather (ie. right after it rains), even if it's coated with BT7. You will discover this if you measure your tension after every match.

I've measured and compared many different strings. I think the true string factor for a Babolat BT7 gut string is much less that the default string factor in RacquetTune.

It's just some software some guy made up. No indication of any scientific method to it. No measuring tension (because you can't). No account of head shape on sound (because it's too complicated). Just randomness someone made up to make quick cash.

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Your post is rather unfortunate. I suggest you review some of the posts made here by the creator of RacquetTune. He explains how it is designed and the science behind it.

It's just some software some guy made up. No indication of any scientific method to it. No measuring tension (because you can't). No account of head shape on sound (because it's too complicated). Just randomness someone made up to make quick cash.

Your post is rather unfortunate. I suggest you review some of the posts made here by the creator of RacquetTune. He explains how it is designed and the science behind it.

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RacquetTune is based on sound scientific principles. All of the physics is explained in the software, and the author has made some brilliant posts in this forum that were validated by other top-notch posters with doctorates in engineering and/or physics. The troll obviously didn't do his homework.

I hate to tell you this, but you did not use the correct string factor. The only way to get the correct string factor is to measure it yourself. You can do this with a calibrated drop weight stringer. The instructions are in the RacquetTune app.

I measured my own string factors for a while until I got lazy and just used the default factors. I know my readings on certain strings will be off, but I mainly use it to track relative tension loss. Until you have the equipment to measure string factors yourself, do not rely on RacquetTune to give you accurate tension readings. It will still work fine for measuring relative tension loss over time.

My own experience with Babolat Tonic 16 gauge w/BT7 told me that it measured very high when using the default string factor. My guess is that the #3 string job may have been your best string job while #1 and #2 were either rushed and under-tension or they were exposed to moisture and lost tension. Gut can lose a lot of tension just by playing in humid weather (ie. right after it rains), even if it's coated with BT7. You will discover this if you measure your tension after every match.

I've measured and compared many different strings. I think the true string factor for a Babolat BT7 gut string is much less that the default string factor in RacquetTune.

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I have tried 1.32 mm also. I saw a similar differences in tensions.
String factor is not crucial factor in my case.
Note that I'm only interested in differences in tension.

Note that no tension meter in this world can measure absolutely accurate tension.
I am using it just as a "Reference Tension" to compare 3 identical frames with
3 identical strings.

I have tried 1.32 mm also. I saw a similar differences in tensions.
String factor is not crucial factor in my case.
Note that I'm only interested in differences in tension.

Note that no tension meter in this world can measure absolutely accurate tension.
I am using it just as a "Reference Tension" to compare 3 identical frames with
3 identical strings.

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In my experience, the number of stringers who rush through jobs so they can do over 10 racquets in one day outnumbers the people who care about their work. If you have 3 string jobs and one of them is an outlier, it's very possible that the outlier is the only good one out of the 3. Tonic was a bit of an outlier for me because the RacquetTune readings were unusually high.

In my experience, the number of stringers who rush through jobs so they can do over 10 racquets in one day outnumbers the people who care about their work. If you have 3 string jobs and one of them is an outlier, it's very possible that the outlier is the only good one out of the 3. Tonic was a bit of an outlier for me because the RacquetTune readings were unusually high.

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ah! that is certainly possible. And I didn't really think about that possibility.

But it's been 6-7 months since I had it strung as I recall. And it felt dead
and unplayable immediately after it's got strung. Now after 6-7months, it is registering
66 lbs and that is so wrong. I mean it is more wrong than other.
So I conclude that is the outlier.

I advocate a performance-based decision to replace strings. When the ball starts to not do what you want it to do, (you miss your targets more, more shots going long, hooking shots wide) then you replace your strings. Tension matters less than loss of resiliance.

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Totally agree but in case the players are very young kids (true in my case as its my 9yr old who plays), its very difficult to make that judgement especially if they are still learning to control the ball well. I find RacquetTune helps well here to keep a track of how the tension is going down. Not the best method I guess but being pretty new to all this, it made the most sense to me.

It's just some software some guy made up. No indication of any scientific method to it. No measuring tension (because you can't). No account of head shape on sound (because it's too complicated). Just randomness someone made up to make quick cash.

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Completely false and disparaging. I have never seen a post where you are not attacking someone or something.

Try therapy.

I use Rtune with my stringway and it is always very accurate on it's readouts. Great app. More importantly it will show tension loss for a stringjob if you log the results over time.

I know these are only reference tensions but #3 clearly was a bad one, I concluded.
I requested 62# but I think the stringer( person or machine ) probably pulled it at 70+ lbs.
It felt dead and I stopped playing with it. BT7 with this high tension is probably unusable.
There goes $43(string) + $22(stringing fee) wasted.

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At shops around here you can get a good string job done for <$15... I personally charge $8 labor, but I get a fair amount in tips.

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

A good example would be a Head Microstring racquet (circa the 90s). If you strung that racquet at 30lbs it felt like 60lbs. Do you think your iPad app would say 30 or 60??

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

A good example would be a Head Microstring racquet (circa the 90s). If you strung that racquet at 30lbs it felt like 60lbs. Do you think your iPad app would say 30 or 60??

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I might not get the tension that the machine was stringing at, but if I string 3 rackets on the same machine, RT reads the tensions of 1 racket within 2-3 lbs of the other 2 rackets.

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

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But yet the app has settings for headsize, string type and gauge.

If it didnt work, then I guess I am lucky because if I string at 50/53 it always pings out at 51.5 or 52.

Also, once you have a reference tone, you can still measure tension loss, which is the main benefit of the app.

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

A good example would be a Head Microstring racquet (circa the 90s). If you strung that racquet at 30lbs it felt like 60lbs. Do you think your iPad app would say 30 or 60??

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Have you ever tried RacquetTune? Judging from your post, I don't think you have.